Zero-clearance bolted joint

ABSTRACT

A bolted joint which is formed by using a bolt having a tapered shoulder to cold form a deformable sleeve in order to provide a &#34;zero-clearance&#34; fit. Specifically, preferably a plurality of bolted joints are used to join a ring gear to a differential case. As the bolts are installed into the differential case and ring gear, tapered shoulders on the bolts dilate deformable sleeves until outer diameters of the sleeves contact internal walls of through holes in the differential case.

RELATED APPLICATION (PRIORITY CLAIM)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/708,265, filed Aug. 15, 2005, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present application generally relates to bolted joints, and more specifically relates to a zero-clearance bolted joint such as for use in joining a ring gear to a differential case.

One application in which bolted joints have been attempted to be used is in joining a ring gear to a differential case. However, generally the bolted joints are not capable of keeping the gear from moving in relation to the differential case. This is because the bolts are not capable of producing enough tension to keep the gear from slipping which in turn causes the bolts to back out of the joint.

One current method of joining a ring gear to a differential case utilizes matching circular patterns of a plurality of through holes on the differential case and a plurality of tapped holes on the ring gear. This design has raised concerns with the hole position tolerance capability of the manufacturing plants. As a result, the challenge is to develop a way of fastening the differential case to the ring gear that will be forgiving of alignment and minimize gear slippage while the ring gear is submitted to a substantial load for a number of cycles.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY

An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a zero-clearance bolted joint which can be used, for example, to join a ring gear to a differential case.

Another object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a zero-clearance bolted joint which can be used as a way of fastening a differential case to a ring gear that is forgiving of alignment and minimizes gear slippage while the ring gear is submitted to a substantial load for a number of cycles.

Briefly, and in accordance with at least one of the foregoing objects, an embodiment of the present invention provides a bolted joint which is formed by using a bolt having a tapered shoulder to cold form a deformable sleeve in order to provide a “zero-clearance” fit. Specifically, preferably a plurality of bolted joints are used to join a ring gear to a differential case. As the bolts are installed into the differential case and the ring gear, tapered shoulders on the bolts dilate deformable sleeves until the outer diameters of the sleeves contact internal walls of through holes in the differential case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a bolted joint which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, showing the condition prior to applying a shear load;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but shows the bolted joint after a shear load has been applied, showing maximum movement between the differential case and ring gear;

FIG. 3 shows the sleeve before installation of the bolt;

FIG. 4 shows the sleeve after installation of the bolt;

FIG. 5 provides a graph of the tensile load on the bolt vs. time, due to cold forming the sleeve during installation;

FIG. 6 provides a graph of the torque (in lb-ft) on the ring gear vs. angle of rotation (in degrees) between the ring gear and differential case;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the bolt;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the sleeve;

FIG. 9 is a side, cross-sectional view of the sleeve, taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a section of the differential case;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 shows a section of the ring gear;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 shows an alternative embodiment which includes a retention feature;

FIG. 15 shows a close up, detailed view of a circled portion of FIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 shows a preferred bolt for use with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

While the present invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein.

The present invention is directed to a zero-clearance bolted joint which can be used, for example, as a way of fastening a differential case to a ring gear that is forgiving of alignment and minimizes gear slippage while the ring gear is submitted to a substantial load for a number of cycles.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bolted joint consists of a bolt 20 having a head 22 which preferably has a hexagon profile 24 as shown in FIG. 7. Of course, the head 22 may have a profile other than hexagon. A threaded portion 26 is provided on a shaft portion 28 of the bolt 20, proximate an opposite end 30 of the bolt 20. An adhesive 32, such as Precoat 80, may be applied to a section 34 of the threaded portion 26 of the bolt 20, such that the adhesive 32 as applied allows for a finger effort start for one revolution after first engagement with the ring gear, as will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a tapered shoulder 44 is provided generally between the threaded portion 26 and the head 22 of the bolt 20. With regard to material, the bolt 20 may be formed of, for example, ESS-M1A170-B Grade 8 or 8.2. As will be discussed more fully hereinbelow, the shoulder 44 may instead be provided as rounded (see FIG. 16), and this is actually preferred for reasons discussed later hereinbelow.

In addition to the bolt 20, the bolted joint also includes a sleeve 46 as shown in FIGS. 1-4, 8 and 9. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the sleeve 46 is generally circular having a throughbore 48. As such, the sleeve 46 has an inner diameter 50 and an outer diameter 52. Preferably, the inner diameter 50 of the sleeve 46 is smaller than the width or diameter 36 of the shaft portion 28 of the bolt 20, such that the tapered shoulder 44 of the bolt 20 deforms the sleeve 46 when the bolt 20 is installed, i.e., is threadably engaged with the ring gear 42. Preferably, the outer diameter 52 of the sleeve 46 is smaller than a diameter 54 of a corresponding aperture or through hole 56 which is provided in a differential case 58, such that the sleeve 46 can be inserted in the through hole 56 in the differential case 58. Additionally, preferably a diameter 60 of the head portion 22 of the bolt 20 is larger than the diameter 54 of the through hole 56 in the differential case 58. As such, when installed, the head 22 of the bolt 20 seats against the differential case 58, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The sleeve 46 may be formed of, for example, AISI 1010 steel.

With regard to the differential case 58, FIG. 10 shows a section of the differential case 58, illustrating the aperture or through hole 56 provided therein. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 10. With regard to the ring gear 42, FIG. 12 shows a section of the ring gear 42, illustrating a tapped hole 40 provided therein. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 3 shows the condition of the sleeve 46 before the bolt 20 is installed. As shown, the shape of the sleeve 46 is consistent with that which is shown in FIG. 9. During installation of the bolt 20, the head 22 of the bolt 20 is rotated causing the threaded portion 26 of the bolt 20 to thread into the tapped hole 40 which is provided in the ring gear 42. As the threaded portion 26 threads into the hole 40, the tapered shoulder 44 of the bolt 20 cold forms the sleeve 46, as shown in FIG. 4 (see also FIGS. 1 and 2), thereby causing the outer surface 64 of the sleeve 46 to contactably engage an internal wall 62 of the differential case 58, thereby providing a “zero-clearance” fit. FIG. 5 provides a graph of the tensile load on the bolt vs. time, due to cold forming the sleeve during installation

To fully join the ring gear to the differential case, preferably a plurality of bolted joints are used. FIG. 1 shows the bolted joint prior to applying a shear load, and FIG. 2 shows the bolted joint after a shear load has been applied, showing maximum movement between the differential case 58 and ring gear 42. As shown, while the differential case 58 moves sideways relative to the ring gear 42 and the bolt 20, the bolt 20 and sleeve 46 resist the relative movement between the differential case 58 and the ring gear 42 which additionally reduces the tendency of the bolt 20 to back out of the joint, preferably even when the differential case 58 is submitted to a substantial load for a number of cycles. FIG. 6 provides a graph of the torque (in lb-ft) on the ring gear vs. angle of rotation (in degrees) between the ring gear and differential case.

FIG. 14 shows a preferred embodiment of sleeve 46 (identified as 46 a in FIG. 14), wherein a retention feature is provided, specifically three depressions 66 a, equally spaced, on the external surface 64 a of the sleeve 46 a, and an internal lip or protrusion 67 a. The retention feature provides that the bolt 20 and sleeve 46 a can be supplied such that the sleeve 46 a is retained on the bolt 20, ready for installation in a differential case and ring gear, and this is preferred. FIG. 15 shows a close up, detailed view of a circled portion of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 shows a preferred bolt 20 a for use with the present invention. The bolt 20 a includes a radius or rounded portion 21 a. The purpose of the radius 21 a is to provide a smoother transition when entering the sleeve 46, and to decrease the load required to extrude the sleeve 46.

While embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 

1. A method of forming a bolted joint to secure a first structure to a second structure, said method comprising: providing a bolt comprising a head and a shaft portion extending from the head, said shaft portion comprising a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion which is disposed between the head of the bolt and the threaded portion, said non-threaded portion having a width; providing a sleeve which is disposed in the first structure and which includes a throughbore, said sleeve having an inner diameter defined by the throughbore, wherein said inner diameter of said sleeve is smaller than the width of the non-threaded portion of the shaft portion of the bolt; providing a threaded bore in the second structure; inserting the shaft portion of the bolt through the throughbore of the sleeve; simultaneously threading the threaded portion of the shaft portion of the bolt into the threaded bore in the second structure while having the non-threaded portion of the shaft portion of the bolt deform the sleeve; and continuing to thread the threaded portion of the shaft portion of the bolt into the threaded bore in the second structure until the head portion of the bolt contacts the first structure, thereby forming the bolted joint.
 2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing an adhesive on at least a portion of the shaft portion of the bolt.
 3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing that the head of the bolt has a hexagon profile.
 4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising that the non-threaded portion comprises a tapered portion.
 5. A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising providing that the tapered portion includes a radius.
 6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing that the first structure comprises a differential case and the second structure comprises a ring gear.
 7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing that the sleeve has an outer surface and a plurality of depressions which are disposed on the outer surface.
 8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing that the sleeve has an inner surface, and the inner surface includes a lip.
 9. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing that the sleeve has an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the outer surface includes a plurality of depressions, and wherein the inner surface includes a lip.
 10. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing that the sleeve is disposed in an aperture in the first structure, said aperture being smaller than a diameter of the head of the bolt, but being smaller than an outer diameter of the sleeve.
 11. A bolted joint which secures a first structure to a second structure, said bolted joint comprising: a bolt comprising a head and a shaft portion extending from the head, said shaft portion comprising a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion which is disposed between the head of the bolt and the threaded portion, said non-threaded portion having a width; a sleeve which is disposed in the first structure and which includes a throughbore, said sleeve having an inner diameter defined by the throughbore, wherein said inner diameter of said sleeve is smaller than the width of the non-threaded portion of the shaft portion of the bolt; a threaded bore in the second structure, said threaded portion of the shaft portion of the bolt being threadably engaged with the threaded bore in the second structure, wherein said non-threaded portion of the shaft portion of the bolt is non-threadably engaged with the sleeve, wherein the head portion of the bolt is in contact with the first structure, thereby providing the bolted joint.
 12. A bolted joint as recited in claim 11, further comprising an adhesive on at least a portion of the shaft portion of the bolt.
 13. A bolted joint as recited in claim 11, wherein the head of the bolt has a hexagon profile.
 14. A bolted joint as recited in claim 11, wherein the non-threaded portion comprises a tapered portion.
 15. A bolted joint as recited in claim 14, wherein the tapered portion includes a radius.
 16. A bolted joint as recited in claim 11, wherein the first structure comprises a differential case and the second structure comprises a ring gear.
 17. A bolted joint as recited in claim 11, wherein the sleeve has an outer surface and a plurality of depressions which are on the outer surface.
 18. A bolted joint as recited in claim 11, wherein the sleeve has an inner surface, and the inner surface includes a lip.
 19. A bolted joint as recited in claim 11, wherein the sleeve has an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the outer surface includes a plurality of depressions, and wherein the inner surface includes a lip.
 20. A bolted joint as recited in claim 11, wherein the sleeve is disposed in an aperture in the first structure, said aperture being smaller than a diameter of the head of the bolt, but being smaller than an outer diameter of the sleeve. 